CM calls for unity to solve Naga issue

Maintaining that the current situation was a most opportune time for the Nagas and Government of India (GoI) to resolve the seven-decades-old Naga political issue, Nagaland chief minister, T.R. Zeliang called for “one vision, one mission and one goal” in finding a lasting solution to the problem at the earliest.

T.R. Zeliang was speaking at the Consultative meet of Nagaland Legislators Forum with Ex-Parliamentarians on Naga Political issue at RCEMPA, Jotsoma, on Thursday.

According to a press release issued by the CMO, Zeliang said the issue dominating every political discourse since Statehood had been settlement of the Naga political issue and till date it continued to be the main focus of the government, past and present, and every political party in Nagaland.

Lauding the efforts of the Church, civil society groups and NGOs in facilitating resolution of the Naga political issue, the chief minister said that, with their contribution and co-operation, the DAN government had accorded highest priority to the issue since its assumed office in March 2003 and that it continued to do so.

“Efforts at bringing about better understanding between the different NNPGs and drawing them closer to each other has been made while numerous resolutions were passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and other forums to give the right impetus to the peace process from time to time,” he said.

Terming the approach of the six NNPGs that had recently entered into dialogue with the GOI as “truly encouraging”, Zeliang said credit for bringing the various factions together on a common platform went to “the tribal Hohos and its apex bodies, the Church, civil societies, NGOs and NNPGs.”

To bolster facilitation of the peace process, mention may be made that an all-member DAN Cabinet led by the chief minister had gone to Delhi seeking an early settlement of the Naga political issue, especially in view of the upcoming Assembly elections, the CMO statement added.

“Soon after returning from Delhi, the State Cabinet, in its meeting on 11.11.2017, took a decision to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the political issue. This was followed by a meeting of the Parliamentary Working Committee (PWC) in which a 5-point resolution was adopted,” the statement recalled.

The press release further stated that during the recent visit of President Ram Nath Kovind, a representation was submitted stressing the imperative need for resolving the protracted Naga political problem before the ensuing State Assembly elections. A similar representation would be submitted to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh when he reaches Kisama for the Hornbill Festival on Friday, it added.

4-point resolution adopted at the Consultative Meet

The members present at the Consultative meeting adopted a four-point resolution, jointly signed by chief minister, T.R. Zeliang; NLA speaker, Dr. Imtiwapang Aier and president of ex-Parliamentarians Association, T. Khongo. The house placed on record its deep appreciation of all positive steps taken by the Government of India (GoI) and other stake holders, seeking to arrive at an honourable and acceptable solution to the Naga political problem.

It urged the GoI and all stakeholders to resolve the Naga political problem well before the next assembly elections. The house also resolved to request the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct elections to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly only after an honourable and acceptable solution to the Naga political problem was reached. It further urged the members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to pass a resolution along similar lines during its session scheduled to be on December 14 and 15.